Portable device with retractable musician&#39;s cord

ABSTRACT

A device containing a retractable length of musician&#39;s cord and a carrying handle is provided. The cord is used to interconnect music equipment. The device is cost effective, portable and easy to use, and it reduces the problems of excess cord length and lost or tangled cords.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 29/217,524 filed Nov. 18, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. D527,038.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to musician's cords, which are the cables used by musicians to interconnect their electrical instruments (e.g. guitars, bass, keyboard, microphones, etc.) and associated sound equipment (e.g. mixing board, amplifiers, loudspeakers etc.). More specifically, it relates to an easily portable device that provides a retractable length of musician's cord.

BACKGROUND

Modern musicians and musical groups utilize a variety of electrical cables to connect their various instruments to the associated sound equipment. For example, it is not uncommon for a single sound mixer to have one cable connected to the electric guitar, another to the bass, another to the keyboard, and still others to each of the microphones used by each musician. These electrical cables, conventionally referred to as musician's cords, are typically provided as individual loose cords with appropriate connectors at their ends, and musicians (and/or their sound technicians) typically carry these from gig to gig or from practice to practice to interconnect their instruments and sound equipment.

Loose musician's cords are typically sold in a variety of lengths, and an individual musician will often carry several cords of various lengths. Cords of longer length provide greater freedom for the relative positioning of the equipment and for movement about the performance area (e.g. for the signer or guitarist who moves about stage). However, longer cords can be cumbersome to work with and increase the time to set up and tear down a set. Furthermore, excess cord length can be unsightly and it may present a tripping hazard, which can be a risk both to people and equipment. While wireless transmitters and receivers are available to reduce or eliminate the need for long lengths of music cords, such equipment is costly and can be subject to interference.

It has been known to provide retractable electrical extension cords, for example to provide electrical power in different locations in a workshop. However, modern musicians and those that have been burdened with carrying lengths of individual loose music cord have not had the benefit of an easily portable device for addressing their music cord needs. The present invention addresses this need and provides an easily portable unit for establishing an electrical connection for musical instruments.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, what is described is a portable device for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of musician's cord, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the musician's cord extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle. In a preferred embodiment, no other musician's cord other than the first and second lengths extends from the housing. The carrying handle may be textured and there may be rubberized feet on the housing. A stop member may be mounted on the first length at a location spaced from the first connector for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing. The housing may be configured to define a rounded perimeter with the opening from which the first length extends being on the rounded portion of the perimeter. One of the connectors may be a male connector having an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.

What is also described is a method of using a device to establish a connection between music equipment comprising: carrying a portable device to a desired location with a handle of the device; pulling a desired length of musician's cord from a housing of the device, the length being retractably mounted in the housing; connecting the musician's cord to a piece of music equipment; and connecting a second end of the cord to a second piece of music equipment to establish the connection. The device need not include any other music cord besides the cord between the first and second ends. The method may also include retracting the cord into the housing after use. Connecting the cord to music equipment may include inserting a male connector into a female receiver, the male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.

What is also described is a portable device for establishing a connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of music cable, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the music cable extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle; wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is a male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head. A stop member may be mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing, and the first connector may be the male connector. In a preferred form, no other music cable besides the first and second lengths extends from the housing. In addition to the carrying handle, a loop for hanging the housing on a hook may also be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device containing retractable musician's cord.

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the FIG. 1 device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

With reference to the Figures, what is shown is a portable device 10 for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment. Device 10 includes a housing 20, a carrying handle 50, and two lengths 30, 40 of music cord. The first length 30 has a first music connector 32 at its end, and the second length has a second music connector 42 at its end.

The first length 30 is wound around a retracting spool (not shown) inside housing 20, and the free end of first length 30 extends from an opening 24 in the sidewall 22 of housing 20. A ball stop 34 sized larger than opening 24 is mounted on length 30 and a retaining clip 36 keeps the ball stop 34 in position along length 30. When the retracting spool retracts to wind first length 30 into housing 20, ball stop 34 serves as a positive stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the free end into housing 20. As a result, first music connector 32 remains readily available for subsequent use.

Sidewall 22 defines a generally circular perimeter of housing 22 between generally parallel upper 28 and lower surfaces 29. A mounting loop 60 is provided on the sidewall 22 such that the housing 20 may be hung on a hook, and a number of rubber feet 26 are provided on the lower surface 29 of housing 20 for when housing 20 is placed on the ground. The device 10 is intended to be carried from gig to gig by a musician and the carrying handle 50 mounted on upper surface 28 has rubberized texturing 52, 54 to improve ergonomics when manually grasped.

It is to be understood that, as with other types of retractable cords, the retracting spool (not shown) functions to allow a desired portion of the first length 30 to be pulled from the housing 30 and be available for use, wherein the cords 30 and 40 are in electrical communication. Then after use, the length 30 is retracted back into the housing. A variety of retracting mechanism are known to accomplish this purpose.

It is also to be understood that both the music cord 30, 40 and the first and second connectors 32, 42 are of the type that are standard in the music industry for connecting musical instruments. For example, as illustrated, the first connector 32 is a male connector suitable for connection to, e.g. an electric guitar, and includes an elongated post 33 and a tip 35 with a reduced diameter region 37 between the post 33 and the tip 35. As illustrated, the second connector 42 is a female connector of the type that would receive a male connector configured like the illustrated first connector 32.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Only certain embodiments have been shown and described, and all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention described herein are desired to be protected. Thus, the specifics of this description and the attached drawings should not be interpreted to limit the scope of this invention to the specifics thereof. Finally, the prior design U.S. pat. No. D527,038 is herein incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure. 

1. A portable device for establishing a single connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of musician's cord, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the musician's cord extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle; wherein no other musician's cord other than the first and second lengths extends from the housing.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the carrying handle is textured.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rubberized feet on the housing.
 4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stop member mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the stop member is mounted on the first length at a location spaced from the first connector.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a rounded perimeter and the opening for the first length is in the rounded perimeter of the housing.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the connectors is a male connector having an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.
 8. A method of establishing a connection between music equipment comprising: carrying a portable device to a desired location with a handle of the device; pulling a desired length of musician's cord from a housing of the device, the length being retractably mounted in the housing; connecting the musician's cord to a piece of music equipment; and connecting a second end of the cord to a second piece of music equipment to establish the connection.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the device does not include any other music cord besides the cord between the first and second ends.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: retracting the cord into the housing after use.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising preventing complete retraction of the length into the housing with a positive stop mounted on the music cord.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein connecting the cord to a piece of music equipment includes inserting a male connector into a female receiver, the male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the male connector is on the retractable length of musician's cord.
 14. A portable device for establishing a connection between music and sound equipment, comprising: a housing retractably containing a first length of music cable, the first length extending from an opening in the housing and having a first music connector at its end; a second length of the music cable extending from the housing and having a second music connector at its end; and a carrying handle; wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is a male connector including an elongated post and a head with a reduced diameter portion between the post and the head.
 15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a stop member mounted on the first length for preventing the first connector from being retracted into the housing.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the first connector is the male connector.
 17. The device of claim 14 wherein no other music cable besides the first and second lengths extends from the housing.
 18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a loop for hanging the housing on a hook. 